Bennett’s and Dooher’s beat the odds

Two successful local family businesses mark milestones

Oct 05, 2026

Jasmine Bennett, fourth generation to lead Bennett’s Furniture and Mattress.

Businesses come and go, as trends change and families do too. Most firms don’t make it to a second generation, and those that do famously crash when the third takes over.

And then there are the exceptions. We have two long-time success stories here in Campbellford that in the past few weeks have marked major milestones.

In August, Bennett’s Furniture and Mattress celebrated its 100^th anniversary operating in town. As well, just around the corner, Dooher’s Bakery, now in its 77^th year, just moved a bit north into a larger spot on Doxsee Avenue.

Bennett’s, which also has stores in Peterborough and Kingston, is now led by President Jasmine Bennett, the fourth generation of the family to be in charge. In early August, she was recognized by industry publication Furniture Today as one of the 40 Under 40, “a recognition of the next generation of industry leaders, the trailblazers whose actions will carry the industry forward for decades to come,” the magazine says.

To mark its 100^th birthday, Bennett’s has been fundraising and donating to groups in the communities it serves. It had a goal of $100,000 but announced recently it has surpassed that with $110,000 raised and it plans to keep going.

So far, the company has supported these groups in Trent Hills: Incredible Edibles and the Doctors Cookoff, Lions Club of Campbellford, Westben, Downtown Campbellford BIA, Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation, Inclusion Northumberland, Rotary Club of Campbellford, The Bridge Hospice, Northumberland Humane Society, Trent Hills Fire Department, and Sunny Life Recreation & Wellness Centre.

Whenever you’ve shopped in the Campbellford store you’ve probably noticed that you move up and down from level to another and nothing really lines up. That’s because the store is located in what used to be separate buildings that were taken over and walls removed to create a larger space.

A few months back, I got a brief tour of the basements below and saw just how things looked before the buildings were patched together. Back in the 1930s, some of the staff had time on their hands and broke up the rock below to join the basements together. Even today going from one space to another involves ducking and weaving along narrow walkways.

At one point, Bennett’s provided ambulance service in the community and operated a funeral parlour.

Cory Dooher, the third generation of her family to run the bakery, has been in charge for more than a decade. She’s just engineered a big move and expansion in the Doxsee Avenue location where staff and customers have lots more room to move.

She’s marked the transition with new special doughnuts, including a chocolate-pistachio cream one that tastes great, but looks a bit odd with its green filling.

A coffee and muffin bar dedicated to her parents Pete and Chris, even allows a chance to sit and enjoy the products while catching up with friends and neighbours who stop in to shop.

Cory’s children, the fourth generation in the baking business, also work in the store.